Indonesia's Hajj waiting list could shrink with increased quota

Indonesia's Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Mochamad Irfan Yusuf, stated that efforts to reduce the Hajj waiting list are ongoing. He emphasized that a significant reduction in the queue, as desired by President Prabowo Subianto, hinges on increasing Indonesia's Hajj pilgrimage quota.

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We hope various efforts can be made, including communication with our friends at the Saudi Ministry of Hajj, so that the queue can be further shortened.

Minister Yusuf, often called Gus Irfan, explained that the government is actively communicating with Saudi Arabian authorities to secure a larger quota. This negotiation is considered the primary key to expediting the waiting times for prospective Indonesian pilgrims.

Pilgrims departing this year generally registered between 2012 and 2014, resulting in waiting periods of 12 to 14 years. Gus Irfan clarified that the previously stated average waiting time of 26 years is a projection for those registering currently. Those who registered earlier will experience considerably shorter waits.

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This means some have waited 14 years, 13 years, and 12 years.

The Minister visited the Hajj Dormitory in Makassar to ensure the smooth arrival process for pilgrims from eight provinces. He also attended a national working meeting evaluating the Hajj pilgrimage for 1447 H/2026 in Jakarta.

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We calculate that those who register this year will face an average waiting time of about 26 years. But for those who have already registered, God willing, it will not be that long. Like now, those departing have waited an average of 12 to 14 years.